It’s also a great place to grab a drink with a view without feeling like a tinned sardine. We know the nearby Queen Elizabeth Roof Garden is pretty, but this place offers exactly the same view with so much more room to breathe.

2. The National Theatre’s roof is home to an estimated 60,000 bees

They’re fighting the declining bee population with a rooftop beehive paradise. If you’re lucky you’ll even be able to buy some of their fresh honey from the National Theatre bookshop. Now that’s really something to bee proud of!

3. It’s completely free to go and spy on the super-talented set makers

Access to the Sherling High-Level Walkway won’t cost you a penny and you can stay for as long as you like watching the masters ply their trade. There’s always something to see in the production workshop and it’s seriously impressive stuff.

4. Prince Charles once described the National as a nuclear power station

Apparently its construction of the theatre was simply “a clever way of building a nuclear power station in the middle of London without anyone objecting”. He’s completely off, of course, but the building has divided critics for years. It consistently ranks in the top ten of the ‘most popular’ and simultaneously the ‘most hated’ buildings in London. The marmite of London architecture.

6. Their food is unexpectedly good

Food? From a theatre? Outrageous! Well, it turns out the National has a lot to offer when it comes to eating options. Outside you’ll find an American Airstream-inspired caravan home to a Brisket + Bird pop-up, or you can visit the House Restaurant for something a little more upmarket. They even do afternoon tea. Who would have thought?

7. The Olivier is modelled on an ancient Greek amphitheatre in Epidaurus

This gives it some rather impressive acoustics. The Olivier is one of the three National Theatre performance spaces and it certainly isn’t short of mod-cons. The stage revolve extends an impressive 8 metres below the stage. You wouldn’t even feel slightly claustrophobic if you got stuck down there.

8. You don’t have to sell your soul to afford a ticket

Certain performances have limited numbers of Travelex tickets priced at £15 and 16-25s can get tickets to any show for £7.50 as part of their Entry Pass scheme. You really have no excuse not to go and see something at those prices! You can also queue up in the mornings for £15 day tickets (read about those in their FAQs). If all else fails, there’s NT Live – which broadcasts performances live to 800 cinemas across 30 countries – so you can watch from the comfort of your local picture house.

Lily fell in love with London after visiting the Natural History Museum on a day-trip from Bristol (aged four) and she’s never looked back. She’s a sucker for smashed avo’ and poached egg on toast, and she just can’t help herself from frequently posting pictures of her food on Instagram.